As Vice President, Joe Biden Will Be Central to Barack Obama's Administration

[gateley]

Joe Biden is hoping to be Barack Obama's indispensable man. The vice president-elect was chosen by Obama for his Washington experience, as a senator since 1973, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and former chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Obama advisers say Biden will serve as an éminence grise and senior counselor to the new commander in chief from Day 1 and won't be relegated to the role of fill-in at funerals and odd man out in policy discussions. This marginalization has been imposed on some vice presidents in the past, especially when they have seemed disloyal or untalented. Biden is neither. ~ snip ~

Decision making. "Biden will be especially instrumental in helping on the urgent foreign policy matters," says a well-connected Democratic strategist who has served in the White House and has known the Delaware senator for many years. Biden, who turns 66 on November 20, is also expected to help coordinate decision making on foreign policy inside the labyrinth of the executive branch, making sure that Obama's wishes are respected and his preferences enforced. As an influential senator, he has traveled widely around the world. And as a man who is at home in many lands, he will serve in the traditional role of globe-trotter and message-bearer for his boss and is expected to undertake regular diplomatic missions for the administration.

One thing the new vice president will not do, he says, is emulate Dick Cheney, his predecessor, in emphasizing secrecy and trying to expand the powers of the executive branch. It's time, Biden says, for the White House to show more respect for Congress and the Constitution. Ever gregarious and notoriously loquacious, he will do all he can to keep things friendly and cooperative with his legislative colleagues.

"Joe will be very helpful in improving relations and in helping pass legislation, especially in the Senate," says a friend. "He is knowledgeable and well liked, and that goes a long way. He will play a pretty big role in keeping things together on the Hill." ~snip ~

(That's basically the gist of the article, but the whole thing is here http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/11/11/as-vice-president-joe-biden-will-be-central-to-barack-obamas-administration.html)

[ClarkUSA]

1. Biden will be the best vice president in memory if he can stay on message during crucial times.

Al Gore was constantly being shafted/checkmated/stymied by Hillary during his tenure as VP (see Healthcare Reform debacle).
There will be no such human obstacle in the Obama White House for Biden. Thank Gawd for Michelle Obama.

[Frustratedlady]

2. Biden will do just fine and do it with that gorgeous smile.

Joe is going to be refreshing as VP. It will be great to see our Constitution put back together, if Cheney hasn't shredded it completely, and to see the reaction of our foreign leaders to Obama's choice.

[genna]

3. Biden can go off at the mouth so long as he says what is true and correct

I heard that Barack Obama does not suffer fools lightly. So long as a person does the job he was hired to do, he can tolerate less than wonderful traits in other areas. If a person cannot function in the job he/she was given, then Obama shows the person the door.


I think Biden is a great selection and showed his ability to stick to the message when he is under fire. Biden just needs to stay on top of the mix of advisors Obama gets. He can get papered over by all the other unelected WH actors if he doesn't stay on top of it.

[PatSeg]

4. I hadn't thought of the fact

that having two senators in the White House will help "in improving relations" in congress, something that is sorely needed. Biden is going to be such an asset, he knows everyone and has negotiated with them many times.

[Steely_Dan]

5. It was....

Obama's choice of Biden that convinced me that he knows how to make critical decisions.

-P

[gateley]

8. Hey!

:hi:

[Steely_Dan]

10. Hi Gateley...

It is so good to hear from you...How RE YOU?

-P

[gateley]

12. I'm fine -- how about you>??

So good to see you, and I agree with your initial post. When Obama chose Biden, it showed me he was looking for the best person to help him in the WH -- not necessarily the choice that would bring the most political punch.

And people who didn't know Joe before seem to have grown really fond of him. :7

[Laurab]

6. Obama is far too smart to waste Joe Biden's knowledge.

I do believe Biden was the best choice he could have made, especially with all the foreign policy problems we have right now. I think Joe will have a big role in the administration, and from what I can see, the two of them seem to get along very well.

I was thrilled when he picked Biden - I got my "dream" ticket, and I cannot wait to see what they accomplish together.

[Silent3]

7. Won't Biden be too busy running the Senate?

You know, if he wants to, gettin' in there and doin' some good legislatin' also? :)

[Jennicut]

15. ROFL!

You betchya!

[Hippo_Tron]

21. Yup, and since he can see Pennsylvania from his house he's gotta make sure they don't invade

[wildflower]

9. This is interesting:

"Joe will be very helpful in improving relations and in helping pass legislation, especially in the Senate," says a friend. "He is knowledgeable and well liked, and that goes a long way. He will play a pretty big role in keeping things together on the Hill."

Sounds like Obama will have a good cop/bad cop thing going via Biden/Emmanuel.

[Steely_Dan]

11. Interesting analysis...

You may be right.

-P

[tabbycat31]

13. Joe will be one of the best VPs of my lifetime (so far)

I was THRILLED when Barack picked JOe as his running mate. (I actually wanted to vote for Biden in the primary but he dropped out before NJ could vote, his "a noun, a verb, and 9/11" sold me) I was selling at a flea market that day and was jumping for joy when I got the text. My mom was a different story, and was very upset he did not pick Hillary Clinton but I think he hit it out of the park.

He took one of the most experienced, competent, and smartest members of the senate and put him on the ticket. And I LOVED his DNC speech, especially the Freudian slip he made there.

I saw him at a rally in PA two weeks ago, and i was able to briefly talk with him and get a pic. Unfortuantely I couldn't answer yes to the question that he asked me (will your vote help us carry PA?) but I got a great pic wtih him, and the pic was able to flip a few votes.

[Jennicut]

14. Great story! You are so lucky you met him.

I live in a blue state (CT) so no one came to see us. :( But I will live vicariously through others! I always liked Joe as he was always the guy on the Sunday talk shows or on Hardball that cut through all the crud and made some sense. So glad Obama picked him and he will be such a breath of fresh air after Cheney.

[tabbycat31]

18. I live in a blue state too

However I happen to be an hour from the border of a "swing" state. Nobody ever comes here unless they're going to a fundraiser hosted by Jon Bon Jovi.

I took advantage of that and in the final week of the campaign attended Obama and Biden rallies (the former in the cold, pouring rain). Both of them were completely worth 4 hours of driving for (2 each way).

I just felt bad at the Biden rally because I could not answer his question correctly. My vote did not help him carry PA (though I did spend most of Tuesday campaigning in PA). I really liked that he's such a down to earth guy, and he did not mention anything negative at all about McCain or Palin. I never watched the Sunday morning shows until this year, so I'm unsure as to what he said on them. I got into the elections of 04 and 06, but this was the first one I was majorly involved in (this is coming from someone who voted for a presidential candidate in 2000 because he shares my birthday)

I don't want to clog up this thread with this, but I have a review of the rally (plus a link to my pics) in my blog if you want to see it. http://outspokenliberal.blogspot.com/2008/11/biden-rally-in-allentown-pa.html and my pics are also on the links page on my blog.

[gateley]

17. I think he's an exceptional choice for VP -- He brings more to the ticket

and the WH than many other VP's have.

Has your mom forgiven Obama for not choosing Hillary? Did Joe win her over?

And welcome to DU, OutspokenLiberal!! :hi:

[tabbycat31]

19. thanks gateley

I dont know if there's a section for introductions here, but if there is, I'd be happy to post there. And i wish I discovered this place sooner cause it's more addicting than crack. You have to keep in mind that my parents live in Hillary Clinton territory (one mile south of Chappaqua) and that Hillary was the only person in this election to excite my mother. I think that she was going to vote Obama anyways and vote down party lines (she can't stand Republicans). I did a lot of work on this campaign (since I lost my job in June) and I invited her to go on a canvass with me, and she said "you know he's not my candidate. Hillary was my candidate."

She did have Joe's book out of the library, which I took from her and read it (right before the rally so the timing was perfect) but as soon as it was announced, my mom wanted Joe to cite his health and step down to be replaced with Hillary. However she was the one who initially told me about his personal life, which was before my time and I had no idea about. She did tell me last week that Obama was only the 3rd winning president in her lifetime that she had voted for (1st for me). Joe did flip her (very conservative) parents. I sent my mom the pic I have with Joe (the link is on my blog) and she sent to everyone in her address book. And her parents had to vote for a candidate that took a picture wtih their granddaughter.

[gateley]

20. I can understand your mom being loyal to her candidate --

I'm still loyal to Biden and think I always will be. Joe and Hillary are GREAT friends, if that means anything to your mom. At this point, though, what's the point?

I'm glad you got a chance to read his book and learn about him -- the more you know him, the more you love him :7.

No intro section, just post wherever and whenever you want. I'll see you around!

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

22. Absolutely. Joe has been getting big things done for 35+ years

and his contacts, friendships on the Hill and accumulated wisdom about how to get things through the Senate are going to be invaluable assets to President Obama. He couldn't have picked a better VP.

[Honeycombe8]

16. Biden was an excellent pick (judgment!) by Obama. He'll be indispensable.

More than his intelligence and expertise and experience, he seems to know that he is part of an historical administration, and he has been trying to get into the W.H. for years. Both of those things come together to make Biden really want to do ALL he can to make the administration successful and do the best for the country. (Unlike Cheney, who wanted to do his best for his pals.)

[AtomicKitten]

23. He and Barack make a great team.